There are pressures from a variety of sources on energy security and availability. With the effects of climate change increasing, there is also an urgent need to produce power from non-fossil fuels. James Wainwright has come up with a way for people with limited space to generate their own electricity.
James has invented a small solar module that can, like a sunflower, follow the trajectory of the sun during the day. It can also move to maximise the incident sunlight at all points during the day, all year round.
James’s solar panels’ hexagonal shape enables better space-saving stacking and packing than regular panels. They can be more easily accommodated on smaller properties in urban spaces – be it on a garden shed or the roof of a warehouse or factory – effectively and efficiently optimising available space.
James joined the Regional Talent Engines programme in 2022. He appreciates the funding that has enabled him to get his idea off the ground as well as the mentoring, workshops and personalised training. He says: “All of this, combined with the invaluable connections provided by the Royal Academy of Engineering, means that I can fast track the development of the product and business by learning from the experiences of others plus the advice, guidance and support that they give.”
James’s innovation is now well into the development stage, with the building, testing and validating of the solar panels. In the coming months he is looking forward to taking it from an effective prototype to a pilot programme that will demonstrate how efficient and effective this new technology will be.
Associated Programme
